PEP GUARDIOLA hailed his hungry Manchester City stars after their United States tour finished with a youthful flourish.

Man City news: Pep Guardiola has been in the United States without 16 first team regulars (Image: EPA)

Guardiola has been Stateside without 16 first team regulars, with nearly all of them returning this week following an extended break after the World Cup.

The Spaniard has been forced to use prospects like Phil Foden, Brahim Diaz, Eric Garcia, Lukas Nmecha, Luke Bolton and Douglas Luiz in matches against Borussia Dortmund, Liverpool and Bayern Munich.

And although the first two games ended in narrow defeats, this 3-2 comeback win from two goals down against a Bayern Munich team with Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben in midfield was highly impressive.

England U-17 World Cup winner Foden and Diaz made the step up into the seniors last season and have increased their chances of making further inroads during the new campaign with some good performances over the last 10 days.

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We can help them to understand the game after but the guys who don’t run are not going to play, be it the World Cup or not

Pep Guardiola

There was even a debut for 17 year-old Spanish wonderkid Adrian Bernabe who teed up two-goal Bernardo Silva for the second half winner.

“We came here with a lot of young players, new players,” said Guardiola who saw Riyad Mahrez forced off after just 27 minutes with an ankle problem.

“It will be good for them for the future but they know that I always play the guys who run. We can help them to understand the game after but the guys who don’t run are not going to play, be it the World Cup or not.

“That is what I like the most as a manager, seeing my players fight and play like a fourth division team. In my career, that detail speaks for itself.

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“You cannot imagine how I enjoyed these 10 days with these guys. The young players have desire, they are starving to become football players.

“They are hungry, work with them and you say something and they open their eyes and listen to you because they want to make a career.

“They are 17, 18, 19 years old. We played with just one or two pros in the first team and we did what we have done in spite of the results. It was so happy for me with the way they played.

“I give credit that we were 2-0 down and never got down. It’s not easy to have high intensity in this humidity but I am so satisfied. We gave a solid 90 minutes.”

Foden is the name on everyone’s lips when it comes to finding someone who can inject a creative spark into Gareth Southgate’s England team.

The 18 year-old, just like the rest of Guardiola’s up and coming stars , need game time in a squad bursting with top class players in all positions.

Southgate, however, will receive a glowing report about Foden.

“I’m happy with Phil because he played an outstanding game, “ said Guardiola.

“The last game (against Liverpool) was not his perfect performance but even though Phil didn’t play good, he’s a fighter, he runs and he never gives up. I like this guy.”

Lukas Nmecha, the 19 year-old striker, impressed in attack with his second-half goal sandwiched in-between two excellent strikes from the impressive Portuguese midfielder Silva after Bayern had been 2-0 ahead in 23 minutes through Meritan Shabani and Arjen Robben.

“We have been lucky in a way, “ said Nmecha.

Man City news: Pep Guardiola said Phil Foden played an outstanding game (Image: GETTY)

“We have got so many great first team players and they’ve all been away at the World Cup, so we have had our chances to play and I thought we all did really well.

“I don’t really know yet what happens next season. When we get back I’ll have to speak with Pep and see what he wants me to do.

“He knows what he’s doing though, doesn’t he? Building up and all that stuff. That’s what helped us win.”

Nmecha tested himself against Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk in last Wednesday’s defeat to Jurgen Klopp’s side and has a wealth of knowledge to tap into every day on the training ground.

“With guys like Sergio Aguero or Gabriel Jesus, most of their advice comes from training, watching what they are doing.

“Mainly I get help from Vincent Kompany. He has told me what he doesn’t like playing against. If I hold it up against him I might lose the battle, so it’s more about running in behind and using my pace.”